Night Flying Images

Coastal Sunset

It was a rare, strangely warm day in September in Half Moon Bay, California. Dave came out to visit for an overdue night flying adventure. We set out on a quest to find the perfect flying spot, and in the process of scaling a steep hillside to get to a secluded beach, we discovered what is possibly nature's most horrible plant: poison oak. It wasn't until about a week later that we knew we had encountered the nasty stuff, and the weeks that followed have been indelibly etched in our memories. However, the remainder of that fateful day was rather pleasant...much like the calm before a storm.

We discovered a flat area overlooking a sheer cliff to the ocean water, below, and decided it was THE place to do some night flying. The air was calm and warm and clear (like I said, a rare day in Half Moon Bay). We flew for a while in the afternoon, but the real magic of the occasion did not begin until sunset. In our feeble attempts to capture the scene on video tape, we managed to collect some images that represented the occasion. These images are what I am sharing with you here.

As usual, problems with my aircraft kept me grounded. However, also as usual, Dave's plane performed flawlessly (as it has for so many years), and remains the star of this photo presentation.

	This is a view of the nearby cliff from a perspective which was as close to the edge of the cliff as we were willing to get.
	And here's a view of some similar cliffs from a safer distance. Needless to say, one wrong move, or a problem with the aircraft, and a plane would be lost forever.
	The sun began to sink into the sea. The distant haze made it appear as though the sun was peering out from under the water. Dave's Eagle II can be seen approaching the glowing fireball from the left.
	A closer view as the Eagle crosses the sun's path.
	Dave's Eagle seems to follow the coast line off into the distance into the proverbial sunset. At this point, it's just a red smudge in the darkening sky.
	Here, Dave's silhouette can be seen against the ocean backdrop as he tracks his plane across the majestic sky.
	Here he is again with his plane in view. Keep in mind that the water you see in the background is about 200 feet (maybe more?) below where his plane is flying.
	Here is just one example of what he was looking at.
	And here's another sample.
	And another.

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Coastal Sunset

05/26/2001